More than 1,000 kg of waste diverted from landfill during Guelph Re: Purpose Fest
From crayons to corks, car seats, bicycles and batteries, the second semi-annual Re: Purpose Fest took place in Guelph Saturday afternoon.
The purpose of the festival is to have the public drop-off and donate items that would otherwise be destined for landfills.
Hosted by the Guelph Tool Library at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Dawson Road, the goal is to encourage the public to take a deeper look at how materials are used and re-used.
“We challenged ourselves, how many things can we find a new home for that would end up in landfill,” John Dennis with the Guelph Tool Library told CTV News.
“Making people think about their consumerism and their spending, do you have to buy something? Is there a better way of doing something?"
All items donated Saturday will be either fixed, recycled, or re-purposed.
“We were aiming to collect about 1,000 kg, but halfway through the event today I think we've already reached that threshold so anything else that we get now is just a bonus,” Stephanie Clarke with the Guelph Tool Library said.
Clarke added that a lineup of cars were already present and ready to donate even before the festival officially began Saturday morning.
“We figure we'll have about 75 car seats today and we will make sure that they are all recycled and don't just end up in the landfill,” Dennis said.
Items being dropped off varied from large to small. Buckets labelled ‘Crayons,’ and ‘Used toys’ were packed with items. Full bicycles were also being donated, some will be re-furbished, others will be used for parts.
More than 20 organizations partnered to accept donations including the City of Guelph, Wands for Wildlife and the BIPOC Outdoor Gear Library.
“We are collecting donations for our lending library which is aimed at getting more racialized folks, Black, Indigenous, people of colour, out in nature doing recreation like camping, hiking, cross country skiing,“ BIPOC Outdoor Gear Library founder Dionna Daley said.
Even the free meal for attendees kept on theme, thanks to Community FEWD.
“We are a food security initiative, we take beautiful surplus foods that are destined for landfill and we upcycle them into gourmet meals and we offer them to the community,” Community FEWD chef, Yasi Zorlutuna explained as she worked the barbeque for guests.
The Guelph Tool Library’s next scheduled event is a Seeding Sale and Fundraiser on Sunday June 5th.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They couldn't breathe': Survivor shares details inside migrant trailer
Simple advice from a friend to stay near the door may have saved Yenifer Yulisa Cardona Tomás from the deadly fate that befell 53 other migrants when they were abandoned trapped in a sweltering semi-trailer last week on the edge of San Antonio. The 20-year-old from Guatemala's capital said it was already hot on June 27 when she stepped out of the warehouse on the Texas side of the Mexico border where she had been waiting and climbed into the back of the trailer.

'Freedom Convoy' organizer Tamara Lich set to have bail hearing
Tamara Lich, an organizer of the 'Freedom Convoy,' is set to appear in an Ottawa court today for a bail hearing after being arrested last week for allegedly breaching one of her bail conditions.
Daughter of Toronto Blue Jays coach killed in 'terrible accident' while tubing in U.S.
The 17-year-old daughter of the Toronto Blue Jays' first base coach died in a 'terrible accident' while tubing in the U.S. this weekend.
Canadian officials denied access to trial of Chinese-Canadian billionaire, embassy says
Chinese authorities have blocked Canadian government representatives from attending the trial of Chinese-Canadian billionaire Xiao Jianhua, the Canadian embassy said on Tuesday.
Former Sask. premier Brad Wall gave strategic advice to key convoy organizer
Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall was in contact with a key organizer of the Freedom Convoy anti-mandate protest, providing strategic advice before and after the Ottawa occupation began, according to court records obtained by CTV News.
'It's the real deal': Doctors warn about future wave fuelled by Omicron variants
COVID-19 cases are rising again in Canada, with the two fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants known as BA.4 and BA.5 to blame. CTVNews.ca has a guide to what you need to know about the new variants.
Saanich, B.C. bank shooter was rejected by military, CAF says
One of the twin brothers who was killed in a shootout with police outside a bank in Saanich, B.C., last week had applied to join the Canadian Armed Forces but was rejected, a military spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Police find person of interest in deadly shooting at Chicago-area parade
Highland Park's police chief said the 22-year-old man identified as a person of interest in the shooting that killed at least six people, wounded at least 30 and sent hundreds of people fleeing from an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago on Monday has been taken into custody.
U.S. man to be charged with kidnapping, rape after Edmonton teen found: Oregon police
A 41-year-old man will be charged with kidnapping and rape after an Edmonton girl who was missing for more than a week was found, Oregon City Police said.